Quinton Coples ripped through Duke’s offensive line like wrapping paper on Saturday for two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
It was one of the few times all season that the senior defensive end has looked like, well, Quinton Coples.
After last season, NFL scouts drooled over him, teams wanted to pay him millions, and that was when he was playing defensive tackle — not even his natural position.
He was a projected top 10 draft pick, but Coples returned for his senior season. He just didn’t realize how different it would be.
“I didn’t understand, or didn’t realize that there were going to be double-teams or things of that nature,” Coples said. “That was an adjustment I had to make.”
And frankly, it was an adjustment he struggled to make.
Before Saturday’s 37-21 win against Duke, Coples had 20 tackles, 5.5 sacks and had forced two fumbles.
On Saturday, UNC defensive coordinator Art Kaufman, at times, moved Coples inside to defensive tackle.
“Quinton has been a guy since he’s been here that’s gotten a lot of slide protection to him in the passing game, a lot of doubles,” interim coach Everett Withers said. “We felt like moving Quinton inside would give him a chance to make a few more plays.”